Coaster wagon



Feb. 28, 1950 w. M. BAKULA l2,499,085

coAsTER wAGoN Filed March 26, 1946 `-i IM f 1\ Figi rl "y i WW/mM--',

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Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES -PATENT QFFICE` vGOASTER WAGONWalter M. Bakula, Denver, Colo.

Application March 26, 1946, Serial No. 657,199 2 Claims. (o1. 28o-87.01)

This invention relates to improvements in coaster wagons and hasreference more particularly to an improved construction of the frontaxle assembly.

There have been andis on the market today a variety of coaster wagonsfor use mostly `by children. Such wagons are nearly always constructedin .a imsy manner and not suitable for use except as toys or playthings.

It is the object of this invention to produce a coaster wagon of asubstantial .and sturdy construction that can be used for transportingheavy loads, as well as for ordinary play wagons.

The improved construction that forms the subject of this applicationrelates, as above stated, more particularly to the front axle assemblyand the object thereof is to produce a sturdy and substantialconstruction that Will guarantee long life and usefulness of the wagon.

Another object is to produce a front axle assembly that is complete initself and which can be attached to any wagon having side members.

Having thus, in a general way, set out the objects of the invention, theconstruction of the wagon and the parts to which this invention relates,will now be described in greater detail and for this purpose referencewill be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has beenillustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wagon;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the chassis frame looking in thedirection of arrows 2 2,

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, Figure 1, showing the frontaxle with the wheel removed;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4, Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view looking through plane 5 5, Figure 3.

In the drawing reference numeral Ill designates the wagon box that mayhave any shape and desired appearance and which rests on a chassis framethat is shown in bottom plan view in Figure 2 from which it will be seenthat it comprises two side frame members I I that are connected at theirfront ends by means of transverse pipes I2 that are upwardly bowed andform a bolster. Secured to the under' surface of the bolster at itsmiddle point, is a' bearing plate I3 that forms a ball race. This -platemay be and preferably is, secured to the bolster by welding. Extendingdownwardly from each of theside frames near the rear ends thereof arepipes I4 whose lower ends are connected to upwardly and forwardlyinclined braces l5. Pipes i4 and :I 5 have .their upper ends welded tothe side members and form triangles to the lower vertices of which therear axle i6 is attached by welding. The shaft extends outwardly beyondthe r`chassis frame, as shown in Figure 2 where the portions on whichthe wheels Il are journaled have been designated by reference ynumeralI8.

It will be seen that the rear axle serves to hold the side members inspaced relation. In the drawing the chassis side frame members .Il -havebeen shown as connectedat their rear end by means of a pipe I 9 and atthe front .end by a pipe 2D. The transverse frame members may,

' however, be omitted, if desired, because the construction of the frameis such that they are not required for strength. A king pin 2lk projectsdownwardly from the bearing plate 1.3 as shown in Figure 4. l

The front axle has been designated 'by reference numeral 22 and isformed from a straight steel bar or ka steel tube and is provided withlaterally extending portions 23 on which the .front wheels are mounted.

The specific construction of the front wheels has not been shown asordinary wheels now on the market are employed. The front axle isreenforced by means of an upwardly bowed truss formed by two tubularmembers 24 whose ends are welded to the axle at points 25. Thetrussmembers are upwardly diverging so as to be spaced a considerabledistance at their highest point. Secured to the truss at its middleposition is a bearing plate 26. In the drawing the two plates I3 and 26have been shown as separated by balls 2l which is the preferredconstruction. However, it is evident that two iiat plates properlylubricated can be employed. lThe king bolt passes through the twobearing plates in the manner shown in Figure 4 and secures the frontaxle in operative position. The front axle is provided at its middlepoint with an upwardly extending pivot 30. For the purpose of bracingthe iront axle to resist forces acting longitudinally of 'the wagon aU-shaped brace is provided which comprises two curved tubular members28. These members have one end connected to a bearing 29 through whichthe pivot 3i) extends. The two brace members are upwardly divergent andtheir upper ends extend across the bolster as shown in Figure 1 and arewelded to the two bolster bars. When this brace is in position itresists forces tending to turn the axle rearwardly or forwardly.

A tongue, which has been indicated by reference numeral 3|, is connectedto the front axle assembly by means of forwardly extending bracketscomprising spaced bars 32 that extend across the truss bars 24 and arewelded to them as shown in Figure 3. The iront ends of these bars arewelded at points 33 to upwardly and forwardly extending tubular bars 34.A spacer rod 35 extends between the front ends of the two triangularassemblies, just described, and the front ends of bars 32 are providedwith openings for the reception of a pivot bolt 30 to which the tongue3| is pivotally connected.

The pivotI bolt 36 is positioned a sufficient distance in front of thewagon box to permit the tongue to be turned rearwardly for steering whenthe wagon is employed for coasting.

From the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, itwill be evident that a wagon constructed in the manner sho-wn anddescribed is very strong and substantial and can therefore be employedfor transporting heavy loads, as well as for coasting. A wagon like theone described is useful around any house or residence as it is not a toybut can be used wherever material of any considerable weight is to betransported. The

box is readily removable from the chassis frame and can be replaced byboxes of other shapes and constructions better suited for someparticular purpose.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A iront axle assembly for use with wagons having a chassis comprisingtwo spaced side members and a rear axle; a bolster formed from twospaced bars positioned near the front end of the frame and welded to theside members, a bearing plate welded to the under surface of the bolsterat its middle point, a king bolt extending through the plate, a frontaxle, an upwardly curved truss element positioned along the upper sideof the axle and attached at its ends thereto, the truss comprising tworod-like members spaced along their middle points with their ends weldedto the front axle, a bearing plate secured to the convex upper side ofthe truss, at its middle, and provided with an opening for the kingbolt, and a U-shaped brace formed from two members connected at one endand diverging, the spaced ends being welded to the bolster, theinterconnected ends being pivoted to the center point of the axle, theaxle having means for attaching a tongue thereto.

2. A chassis frame for coaster wagons, comprising two parallel sideframe members, each frame member having a downwardly extending axlesupporting bracket near its rear end, a rear axle welded to thebrackets, a bolster near the front ends of the frame members, comprisingtwo downwardly bowed tubes positioned in parallel spaced relation on thesame side of the frame REFERENCES GITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 256,820 Comstock Apr. 25, 1882850,971 Schildwachter Apr. 23, 1907 1,434,839 Palmer Nov. 7, 19221,654,072 Ewald Dec. 27, 1927 1,771,813 Norman July 29, 1930 1,816,691Notzke July 28, 1931 2,015,726 Pasin Oct. 1, 1935

